Expansiegaas

Expansiegaas is a term used in industrial engineering to describe any gas used to produce expansion in mechanical or chemical processes. It encompasses gases that are stored under pressure and released to drive actuators, expand materials, or control process conditions.

The name is a compound of expansion (expansie in Dutch/Germanic roots) and gas; in practice it refers to a category rather than a single substance.

Typical expansiegaas include inert gases such as nitrogen and argon, ambient air, and carbon dioxide, as well as specialized gas blends. The choice depends on the application: inert for safety, reactive gases for chemically driven expansion, or high-purity gases for precise control.

Supply and handling: provided by industrial gas suppliers in cylinder form or on-site generators. Common packaging includes compressed gas cylinders and dewars for cryogenic gases. Systems using expansiegaas require appropriate regulators, safety interlocks, and ventilation.

Applications: pneumatic actuators in automation, blow molding and polymer processing, and actuation of safety devices. Also used in laboratory demonstrations of gas expansion and in process control loops where pressure changes are needed.

Safety and environmental impact: depending on the gas, risks include asphyxiation (for nitrogen and argon), flammability (some mixtures), or greenhouse effects (CO2). Proper storage, leak detection, and ventilation are essential; discharge must meet environmental regulations when applicable.

See also: compressed gas, inert gas, expansion valve.